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WARSAW – One bedbug was found recently in a hallway near a locker at River View Junior High School, according to officials.

Superintendent Dalton Summers said no more bugs have been found so far and an infestation is not suspected. He said parents were notified and the school nurse called the Coshocton County Health Department.

“Bedbugs are definitely something you don’t want getting home or to have people at home to look for them,” Summers said.

The district is following a flow chart from the Central Ohio Bedbug Task Force designed for schools. It’s a series of management guidelines on how to handle finding a bedbug or a larger infestation. The building is being inspected by an exterminator, Summers said. The school was not closed for the incident.

Summers said he has never had a bedbug in a school during his career as an administrator. He knows they can often spread, just like lice or a cold, and in those situations doing some extra cleaning and notifying parents is standard.

“In this case, we thought it was the right thing to do to notify our junior high parents and say ‘we had this one bedbug, so just be a little more vigilant when your kids get home,’” Summers said. “Nobody wants (bedbugs) in their house, their schools or anywhere.”

Bedbugs often look like ticks and are about the size of an apple seed. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said bedbugs are not known to carry diseases, but bites can cause itching and loss of sleep. Bedbugs are not considered dangerous, but an allergic reaction to a bite might need medical attention.

The CDC said bugs are transmitted by people traveling and can easily be carried on shoes, clothes, luggage or backpacks. They usually keep to dark areas.

When found in the home, it’s suggested to clean areas where the bugs were found along with bedding, linens, curtains and stuffed animals. Such items should be washed in hot water and be put in a dryer for at least 30 minutes on high heat.